Ear protector



,1937. J. I. DowUNG Em U 2,07 ,3

EAR PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 17, 1935 //v1//v 7-025 JU L[,4 1717014/2 1N5 /G j 1 70552327 L ZZZB UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EAR PROTECTOR Julia I. Dowling, Bridgeport, Conn., and Joseph L. Laib, Albany, N. Y.

Application October 17, 1933, Serial No. 693,954

1 Claim.

One of the steps in a hairdressing treatment for ladies comprises blowing hot air against the hair in order to dry the same, the temperature of the air being sufiiciently high at times to cause discomfort to the car when the air impinges against the same. Metal pieces have been used for the protection of the ear during the hairdressing treatment. Such pieces, however, are comparatively heavy and in order to retain the same in position the two pieces for the respective ears have been connected by a strap passing over the top of the head which makes the device both bulky and expensive. Furthermore such pieces are unyielding and cause discomfort to the user and are good conductors of heat and are likely to become sufliciently hot to cause discomfort.

Other expedients for the protection of the ears have also been restored to which have likewise proven to be unsatisfactory.

The ear protector embodying our invention possesses sufficient flexibility, resiliency and lightness to cause the same to be retained in position over the ear by the usual net which is placed over the hair during the drying operation. At the same time it is by preference formed of a material having comparatively good heat insulating properties thereby preventing the heat from the hot air being transmitted to the ear.

Our invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which we have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ear protector embodying our invention;

5 Fig. 2 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a further modification of our invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side View illustrating the protector of Fig. 1 in position over the ear.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing and first to Figs. 1 and 5, l8 indicates generally a dished member which is formed of fibrous. sheet material and which generally conforms in contour to the shape of the human ear. In the embodiment of our invention illustrated, the sheet material is formed from comparatively heavy paper which is sufficiently firm when positioned over the ear to resist, without crumpling, the ordinary forces to which it is subjected during the hairdressing operation. To fabricate the structures illustrated throughout the drawing, a sheet of suitable material is placed in a punch press which stamps out a blank and presses the same into the shape desired. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the structure comprises an approximately substantially flat, rounded or semi-circular base ll provided with a flange I2 preferably extending outwardly from the rounded edge of said base in substantially straight lines and which may be plaited as at l3. Obviously, the flanged portion may be formed in any suitable manner and need not necessarily be plaited as illustrated. For example, the blank stamped out in the punch press operation may be of such configuration that a portion of its margin may be pressed into a flange without the necessity of plaiting the same. The edge [4 of the structure comprises a straight portion MI defining one edge of the base II and substantially straight portions I42 defining the two edges of the flange. When the protector I0 is placed over the ear in the position indicated in Fig. 5, the crimped margin 12 engages the portion of the head adjacent to the ear and the concave portion thereof fits over the ear thereby protecting the ear from the hot air used in the hairdressing treatment. The crimped edge of the protector permits the same to conform substantially to the shape of the head without discomfort to the user.

The protector illustrated. in Fig. 2 is generally similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, but the bottom portion [2a thereof is semi-elliptical in shape.

In Figs. 3 and 4 we have illustrated a modified form of protector which is curvilinear in section as illustrated in Fig. 4, the protector being dished preferably by the operation of a die, and the edges preferably being crimped as at l2! as in Figs. 1 and 2.

While we have described heavy paper as suitable for the purposes of our invention, it will be understood that felt, cardboard or other desired fibrous material will serve the purposes.

Applicants invention comprises a blank having a concave portion, the blank preferably comprising a substantially flat portion having a curvilinear edge which is integrally joined to a flanged portion extending outwardly therefrom in substantially straight lines. When the blank is applied over the ear and pressure applied thereto by the net which holds the protectorin position, the protector is flattened against the ear and the free edges thereof engage the portions of the head surrounding the ear thereby precluding hot gases which are used in hairdressing operations from finding access to the ear.

While we have described our invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which we have used are words of description and not of limitation. Hence, changes within the purview of the appended claim may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of our invention in its broader aspects.

What We claim is:

In an ear protector, a blank of flexible material of suificient area to cover the human ear and comprising a substantially flat portion having a curvilinear edge integrally joined tda flanged portion extending outwardly therefrom in substantially straight lines and plaited in the direction of said lines, whereby said member may be caused to envelop the human ear with the edges thereof engaging the portions of the head immediately surrounding the ear, thereby substantially excluding the entry of hot gases beneath said member.

JULIA I. DOWLING.

JOSEPH L. LAIB. 

